Phase-i of Yamuna park to be done by April: DDA

NEWDELHI: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Tuesday told the National Green Tribunal that development of Phase-i of the biodiversity park on the Yamuna floodplains will be completed by April next year.

The tribunal had in January 2015 directed the DDA to develop biodiversity parks along the Yamuna bank so that the floodplains do not become a dumping ground for waste.

The DDA told a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar on Tuesday that biodiversity parks would be developed in a phased manner to prevent encroachments. The principal committee constituted by the green court has approved the plan to develop the parks in different phases.

The Phase-i of the project would cover the stretch between old Yamuna rail-cum-road bridge and the old ITO bridge.

“DDA has prepared a comprehensive plan for development of biodiversity parks on Yamuna floodplains. This work is divided in four phases which has also been approved by the principal committee. The work of Phase-i has been started by the project proponent and the entire project would be completed by April 2018,” the bench noted.

The ‘Maili Se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project’, missed its deadline and is facing inordinate delay due to non-cooperation of authorities and lack of executive will, the NGT said. Expressing displeasure over the slow pace, the NGT said the ground reality shows that the project, which was to be completed by March 31 this year, was far away from the target though some progress has been made in the first phase.